A Grammar Of The Arabic Language

In compiling the following Grammar, the author, upon the whole, adopted the same scale, with regard to copiousness, as that used by Rosenmuller; his object, like that of the latter, being to give the student a fair condensation of all that is important in De Sacy’s and Lumsden’s works. In the disposal of his materials he has ventured to differ entirely from his predecessors, as may be seen by a glance at his contents. He holds, that in works of this nature, methodical arrangement is of very great importance in assisting the student’s memory. Nor is this object difficult of attainment; all that a writer has to do, is to discuss plainly and concisely every part of the subject under treatment, at the right time and in the proper place.As the following work is intended for the use of self-instructing students of the Arabic language, a few plain directions for the guidance of all such may not be deemed irrelevant. The preceding economical course will prove highly serviceable to three classes of self-instructing students. — First, to young and middle-aged clergymen, stationed throughout the country, who may wish to acquire a moderate knowledge of Arabic, as a valuable auxiliary to the study of Hebrew;for it is now an acknowledged fact, that a man can no more be a thorough Hebrew scholar without Arabic, than he can be a Latin scholar without Greek. Secondly, to young men preparing for the East India Civil Service, to whom the above course ought to suffice for passing their examination in this country. Thirdly and lastly, to all those who intend to visit any of the extensive regions where the Muhammadan religion prevails, or wherever the modem Arabic is generally spoken. The Modern Arabic differs from the Ancient or Classical, chiefly in this, that the former has undergone a process of simplification, such as the rejection of the nunation, and of the final short vowels in general; also, the rejection of the dual number both in nouns and verbs.